Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

The Hustle (2019) movie poster

Plot Summary

The Hustle (2019) Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Release, runtime and language
2019 · 93 min · English
Echo score 45
JustWatch #3,891 26
Starring
Rebel Wilson, Meena Rayann, Anne Hathaway, Alex Sharp, Tim Blake Nelson, Ashley McGuire
Budget
$21M

A sophisticated British con artist named Josephine joins forces with a charismatic Australian scammer, Penny, to target a wealthy and unsuspecting tech entrepreneur on the French Riviera. Their elaborate plans and sharp humor create a thrilling and comedic game of deception. As they work together, they must also confront their own complicated histories and the increasingly complex relationship that develops between them.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 How it ends
  5. 5 Movie threads
  6. 6 Movies like The Hustle
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch The Hustle (2019)

Where can you watch The Hustle? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount Plus Premium and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in The Hustle: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of The Hustle (2019) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Penny, played by Rebel Wilson, is a small-time con artist operating in Australia. To attract unsuspecting young men like Jeremy, portrayed by Timothy Simons, she uses photos of her alluring "sister," Madison, who is actually a fabricated character. When meeting these men under the guise of scouting for Madison, she cleverly requests $500, claiming it's for a breast enlargement surgery to boost Madison's self-esteem. Unfortunately, Penny finds herself pursued by law enforcement due to complaints from previous victims, prompting her to escape for a few weeks until the heat dies down.

Across the globe, we find Josephine, played by Anne Hathaway, a suave con artist who runs her schemes with a team, conning some of the world's richest billionaires. Frequenting the glamorous casinos of the South of France, she pretends to have won an impressive lottery prize of $87 million. Her next target is a desperate Danish billionaire named Mathias, who has lost a fortune and is cut off from further credit. As she skillfully plays her hand, he hands her expensive jewelry in exchange for chips. However, her ruse is uncovered when the police inspector Brigitte, played by Ingrid Oliver, captures her in a staged arrest.

> "Our idol is the legendary con artist Medusa, but her identity remains shrouded in mystery."

Fate intertwines the lives of these two con artists as they encounter each other on a train journey to Beaumont-Sur-Mer. While Penny tries to charm a fellow passenger into paying for her dinner under the pretext of raising money for her kidnapped sister, Josephine shares her own tale of deception. Initially, Josephine tries to mislead Penny by describing Beaumont-Sur-Mer as a favorite spot for women seeking other women, directing her to ply her trade elsewhere. However, the next day, she is surprised to see Penny arrive with a billionaire named Gregor—a man she has been targeting.

Penny soon finds herself arrested under a scheme engineered by Josephine, who takes advantage of the situation by bailing her out with funds stolen from Penny herself. Josephine advises her to leave before the Russian mafia gets involved due to her association with Gregor. At the airport, Mathias confronts Penny, demanding the return of a valuable bracelet that she unknowingly possesses. This complicates matters as Penny realizes she has been outsmarted by Josephine, igniting a desire for revenge.

Determined to make amends, Penny approaches Josephine and requests to learn her con artist tricks. Expressing reluctance but recognizing she has no choice, Josephine agrees, leading to a series of humorous exploits as they con wealthy targets together. Under Josephine's guidance, Penny adopts new personas and strategies, including posing as a blind girl in need of an expensive surgery.

Their rivalry escalates as their insecurities flare, leading them to compete against each other for the attention of Thomas Westerburg, played by Alex Sharp, a wealthy tech entrepreneur. Each woman devises elaborate ploys to outwit the other. Josephine, taking on the guise of a fake doctor, aims to debunk Penny's act while Thomas remains blissfully unaware of the chaos around him.

Despite the competitive tension, Penny discovers her genuine feelings for Thomas as he expresses his dream of innovation, creating a bond that's purely motivational. Amidst all the con and deceit, Thomas reveals he too is a con artist—with an ancestry tied to the infamous Medusa—and proposes that the three of them join forces to form an even more formidable team in the world of high-stakes deception.

Throughout this whirlwind of schemes, rivalries, and unexpected alliances, Penny and Josephine learn about the fine line between deception and trust, revealing that even in a world dominated by cons, genuine connections can emerge.

Last updated: October 27, 2024 at 16:28

Was this helpful?

Plot questions answered

The Hustle Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about The Hustle (2019): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why did Josephine set Penny up for arrest in Beaumont-Sur-Mer?

Josephine orchestrated Penny's arrest to eliminate her as competition. When Penny arrived in town with billionaire Gregor (a man Josephine had been targeting), Josephine saw her as a rival threatening her con. She used Penny's association with Gregor to trap her, then bailed her out using money stolen from Penny herself, warning her to flee before the Russian mafia came after her.

Foreshadowing: Earlier on the train, Josephine tried to mislead Penny about Beaumont-Sur-Mer to deter her from competing in the con game.

  • josephine
  • penny
  • arrest
  • beaumont-sur-mer
  • con artist
  • trap
Q2

How did Penny and Josephine go from rivals to partners?

After Josephine scammed Penny and orchestrated her arrest, Penny tracked her down demanding to learn her tricks. Josephine reluctantly agreed, and as they pulled off cons together, their rivalry evolved into genuine camaraderie. Their partnership deepened through shared experiences and mutual respect, eventually leading them to team up with Thomas.

  • penny
  • josephine
  • partnership
  • rivals
  • con artists
  • team up
Q3

What is the significance of Thomas being related to Medusa?

Thomas reveals he is a con artist with ancestry tied to the legendary Medusa, one of the most famous con artists in their world. This twist establishes that the con artist lifestyle runs in his family and explains why he was able to see through Penny and Josephine's schemes. He proposes the three of them form a team to pull off even bigger scams.

Foreshadowing: The movie opens with mention of Medusa as their idol, establishing her importance to the con artist world.

  • thomas
  • medusa
  • con artist
  • family lineage
  • revealed
Q4

Why did Penny want revenge on Josephine?

Penny wanted revenge because Josephine scammed her by orchestrating her arrest, stole her money to bail her out, and left her vulnerable to the Russian mafia. At the airport, billionaire Mathias confronted Penny demanding a valuable bracelet she didn't know she had, Josephine had cleverly planted it on her during the scam. This realization that she'd been outsmarted fueled Penny's desire for payback.

Foreshadowing: Josephine took jewelry from Mathias during her con, later using it to frame Penny.

  • penny
  • josephine
  • revenge
  • bracelet
  • mathias
  • scammed
Q5

What was the bracelet that Mathias wanted back from Penny?

The bracelet was expensive jewelry that Josephine had taken from Mathias while conning him as a desperate Danish billionaire. When Josephine set up Penny, she planted the bracelet on her, making it appear Penny had stolen it. Mathias tracked Penny down at the airport demanding its return, not realizing the women had played him as part of their larger scheme.

Foreshadowing: Josephine received jewelry from Mathias in exchange for gambling chips during her lottery con.

  • mathias
  • bracelet
  • jewelry
  • con
  • stolen
  • valuable
Q6

How did Josephine con the Danish billionaire Mathias?

Josephine posed as a lottery winner with an $87 million prize at casinos in the South of France. She targeted Mathias, who was desperate after losing his fortune and being cut off from credit. Through charm and deception, she convinced him to give her expensive jewelry in exchange for gambling chips, part of her scheme to extract money from wealthy desperate men.

  • josephine
  • mathias
  • lottery
  • con
  • billionaire
  • casino
Q7

Why did Penny pretend to have a sister named Madison?

Penny created the fictional Madison as part of her small-time con in Australia. She used attractive photos of herself (claiming they were Madison) to lure young men like Jeremy. Under the pretense of scouting Madison as a potential date, she would request $500 for a breast enlargement surgery she claimed would boost Madison's self-esteem. This was her scheme to extract money from unsuspecting victims.

  • penny
  • madison
  • sister
  • con
  • scam
  • australian
Q8

What was the twist with Thomas at the end of the movie?

Thomas Westerburg, the wealthy tech entrepreneur both women were competing to seduce, revealed he was also a con artist. He had been playing Penny and Josephine against each other while being fully aware of their schemes. He proposed that all three join forces as a team, creating a "found family" of high-stakes con artists.

Foreshadowing: Thomas seemed unusually unfazed by the women's elaborate deceptions throughout the movie.

  • thomas
  • twist
  • con artist
  • revealed
  • identity
  • tech entrepreneur
Q9

Did Penny's feelings for Thomas become genuine?

Yes, despite the initial con, Penny developed real feelings for Thomas. When he shared his dreams of innovation and his genuine passion for creating something meaningful, it created a authentic emotional connection. This marked one of the rare moments in the film where deception gave way to genuine feeling for Penny.

  • penny
  • thomas
  • feelings
  • genuine
  • romance
  • connection

Ending explained

What Happens at the End of The Hustle?

How The Hustle (2019) ends, in short: the final scene, the last twist and what it means for the characters. The full ending explained, with every spoiler, lives on its own page.

Read the full ending explained

The ending of "Hustle" brings a satisfying conclusion to Bo Cruz’s journey from street basketball to the NBA. After months of relentless effort and overcoming numerous obstacles—false promises, reputational attacks, and personal setbacks—Bo finally gets a crucial last-minute chance to prove himself in an impromptu game. In this high-stakes situation, he not only shows off his outstanding skills but also demonstrates incredible resilience, standing up to harsh insults and emotional triggers that threaten to derail him. His performance impresses everyone present, including the Boston Celtics, who are eager to sign him, and even Vince, who initially doubted his character but ends up recognizing Bo’s true talent and determination.

Meanwhile, Stanley Sugerman’s dedication and belief in Bo’s potential come full circle as he is reinstated as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. Their bond, forged through shared struggles and genuine mentorship, deepens into a father-like connection, symbolized by Bo’s tattoos and the respect they continue to hold for each other. Bo’s move to the Celtics signifies his official entry into the NBA, fulfilling his dream after a long, hard journey. The story emphasizes themes of perseverance, mentorship, and the transformative power of belief in someone’s potential, showing that with support and determination, even the most unlikely players can reach the pinnacle of their dreams. The ending celebrates the triumph of hope over setbacks and the importance of perseverance, leaving viewers with an inspiring message about never giving up.

The Hustle ending explained in full

Movie threads

More Movies Like The Hustle, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes The Hustle tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Con Artist Movies like The Hustle

Clever scammers pull off elaborate deceptions in glamorous settings. If you enjoyed the clever scams and witty deception in The Hustle, you'll love these movies. Discover similar comedy-crime stories featuring charismatic con artists, elaborate plots, and a playful sense of one-upmanship set against glamorous backdrops.

  • deceptive
  • witty
  • glamorous
  • clever
  • unpredictable
  • sharp
  • Tone: witty, playful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread follow the planning and execution of a major scam, often involving a team with complementary skills. The plot is driven by twists, near-misses, and the intellectual challenge of the con itself, frequently culminating in a final reveal or twist that subverts expectations.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core focus on the art of the con. They deliver a similar mix of fast-paced plotting, clever dialogue, and a lighthearted, glamorous atmosphere where deception is a form of entertainment rather than a dark crime.

Movies about Rivals Becoming Partners like The Hustle

Competitive foes discover they're better off as a team. Looking for more movies like The Hustle where fierce competitors become a powerful team? This list features films with a similar dynamic of witty rivalry evolving into a strong partnership, often in comedic or high-stakes scenarios with a happy, collaborative ending.

  • competitive
  • witty
  • unlikely alliance
  • banter
  • collaborative
  • playful
  • Tone: competitive, lighthearted
  • Pacing: fast, dynamic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern begins with two opposing forces who are each other's equals. A common goal or enemy forces them into a temporary truce, during which their initial friction gives way to mutual respect. The climax often sees them combining their unique skills to succeed where they would have failed alone, solidifying their new partnership.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they center on the specific character arc of rivals becoming allies. They share a similar emotional journey from competitive tension to collaborative triumph, delivering a feel-good experience about finding strength in an unexpected partnership.

If you liked this

Movies Like The Hustle

Similar movies to The Hustle: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

The Hustle (2019) Explained: Plot, Ending, Timeline & Characters

Everything about The Hustle in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning, the ending explained and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app